In response to the current crisis in South Asia, West Virginia University student organizations are launching a campus-wideDollars for Disasterfund-raising campaign Monday, Jan. 10, to help victims of the tsunami.

Thus far, more than 150,000 people have died and millions more left homeless by the destruction.

The Student Health Advisory Board is coordinating WVU s relief efforts with the Mountain Laurel Chapter of the American Red Cross. Students will be collecting money from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, through Friday, Jan. 14, and Tuesday, Jan. 18, through Friday, Jan. 21, in the Mountainlair commons area.

Other collection sites include:

• Student Recreation CenterMonday, Jan. 10, 4-8 p.m.

• Health Sciences Center (ground floor by the bookstore)Monday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Mineral Resources Building atriumMonday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Allen Hall lobbyTuesday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Percival Hall lobbyTuesday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Agricultural ScienceWednesday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• WVU Coliseum (Blue Gate)Thursday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• College of Law main entranceThursday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Creative Arts CenterDates and times to be announced.

Symbolizing their willingness to lend a hand, donors will be able to sign their names and leave messages of support and sympathy onhandscut out of paper, said Amy Jo Taylor, vice president of the Student Health Advisory Board. Thesehands,along with a traditional Tibetan prayer polecreated by art teacher Nora Sheets and her students at St. Francis DeSales Central Catholic Schoolwill be on display in theLair.

All money will go to the American Red Cross International Response Fundwhich encompasses the Red Cross and Red Crescentproviding immediate, vital support to those affected by the widespread disaster. Cash and checks made out to the ARC International Response Fund will be accepted. Checks may be mailed to: SHAB /WVU Health Service, P.O. Box 9247, Morgantown, WV 26506 .

The Campus Red Cross Club, International Programs, International Students and Scholars, Student Life and Student Organization Services and Alpha Phi Omega are just a few of the many groups participating in the fund-raiser, said Peggy Kovac, Student Health Advisory Board adviser.

Even though weve been hearing about people coming through on behalf of the Red Cross, we know the needs will be long-term with this disaster,Kovac said.If every student, administrator, faculty and staff member at the University donated one dollar, we could raise a significant amount of money.

A community forum is also being planned for Friday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms, she added. Students whose homelands have been affected, faculty with expertise in tsunamis, a journalist who has traveled extensively in South Asia and a local woman from Indonesia whose family was impacted are among the invited panelists.

WVU has 409 students from India, 19 from Malaysia, 16 from Indonesia, 11 from Thailand, seven from Sri Lanka and one from Myanmar.

Shortly after the tsunami struck, the Office of International Students and Scholars and WVU international student organizations e-mailed students believed to have gone home for the holiday break. All of those students contacted have since been accounted for, and there have been no reports of students killed or injured.

As noted in a previous WVU news release, Kharivat Narayanan, an administrative secretary for WVU s International Programs, had been anxiously awaiting word of his family and friends in Chennai, India, one of the cities hardest hit by the tsunami. He is happy to report they are safe and are now pitching in with recovery efforts along the Indian beaches.